India - A Culture Shock of Note

Everything happens on the street in India
In the last few years, I have being travelling to India at least 2 or even three times a year. I must stay, I really enjoy visiting India, but I guess that it is not a country for everyone. You will either love India or hate it. I love India. If you want to travel to somewhere different, then India is definitely your country. I will probably end up doing quite a few posts on India as there is so much to talk about.  From the traffic, which is a total experience on its own, to the food, the culture, the people, the contrast between poverty and luxury, and the contrast between the old and the new. It is a very big country with some truly amazing places to visit.

South Africans need to get a visa to travel to India. In the past, it was always quite a mission to get an Indian visa. The embassy always had additional questions, or they did not like the ID photo or some other issue. Now there is the e-visa! Great service. You can now get double entry e-visas and you can get two e-visas a year. The traditional visa, before the e-visa, did a pretty good job of filling up my passport. On average a passport does not last me for that 4 to 5 years, then it is full. Hopefully with the e-visas, my passports will last a bit longer! There are a few other countries who also do e-visas, like Turkey, Colombia and UAE. Countries like Indonesia, when you can get a visa on arrival, also no longer stick something into you passport. You just get the entry and exist stamps. Just a word of warning - beware of scams! There are a few very good scam web sites which look very similar to the official India e-visa application form. If you are not sure, work through your trusty travel agent.

Train station in Pune
Normally, I end up doing quite a bit of travelling around India when I visit. One of the most important aspect to remember is that most of the airlines in India only allow 15 kg luggage. They are also pretty strict on this. Most international airlines have a 20 kg limit. The 15 kg limit can come as a bit of a surprise. Also, you must have a copy of your plane ticket available. This is checked before you can get into the terminal building. Air travel in India has, over the last few years, has become a very popular way to travel and the airports are all pretty new and quite good. There is much competition between the different airlines and the planes are in very good condition. There is little to choice between the internal airlines in India.

My favourite long haul airline, Emirates, flies to various main cities in India with at least two or three daily flights. This makes flying into one city and flying out from a different city possible. It is also normally quite a short flight of between 3 hours to Mumbai to 6 hours to Kolkata.

Fruit stall along the road
Traditionally, the main mode of transport in India is still rail. You see trains often when driving along the route. There are also very busy train stations in all of the cities and towns. I have done a few train trips in India. Also another experience which is worth a post or two!
Waiting area for Buissness class check in at Mumbai Airport

Long distance travel by road in India in normally not such a good idea. You go nowhere fast. I once travelled 190 km from Chandigarh to Jim Corbett tiger reserve. It took close to 12 hours to do the drive. This only included a very short stop for lunch! No other scenic stops along the way. Obviously I had a drive on this trip.  If I was driving, I would still be driving. Road conditions vary from region to region. One thing which is common to all roads in India is chaos! Everything, including the kitchen sink, is on the street! And of course cows! There are cows walking around everywhere! Holy cows! They have the right of way, no matter what! We were stuck in traffic at one point. You could basically not fit a piece of paper between the cars, motor bikes, carts and people on the road. Then the cows moved through. Just knocking off the mirrors of the cars. Drivers in India live on their hooter (horns for those of you in the USA). Noisy chaos! Once you get over the terror of being driving in India, it can become quite enjoyable to be on the "Open" road.

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